In WWE history, certain moments become etched into the fabric of the industry’s tapestry, forever resonating with fans. Becky Lynch’s dramatic heel turn on Charlotte Flair during SummerSlam 2018 is undoubtedly one such moment, but what unfolded after the twist of fate has sparked intrigue and conversation.
At SummerSlam 2018, Charlotte Flair emerged victorious against formidable opponents Becky Lynch and Carmella to claim the coveted SmackDown Women’s Championship. The stage was set for celebration, but the narrative took an unexpected turn. What followed was a shockingly aggressive and relentless assault by Becky Lynch on her longtime friend, Charlotte Flair, indicating a significant character shift—a transformation into a heel.
The post-match attack marked a pivotal moment in Lynch’s career, steering her trajectory into a darker, more ruthless path. However, the reactions that ensued from the WWE Universe were nothing short of surprising. Instead of showering Becky Lynch with boos and condemnation, fans rallied behind her with cheers and support. This phenomenon drew the attention of seasoned wrestling professional and WWE Hall of Famer, Road Dogg.
During a recent episode of his podcast, aptly titled “Oh… You didn’t know,” Road Dogg dissected the unexpected fan response to Becky Lynch’s actions. He expressed his genuine astonishment at the way the fans embraced Lynch’s newly unveiled heel persona, a response that defied the typical expectations for such a storyline twist.
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“The idea was that Charlotte came in and weaseled her way in and won the title and kind of stole it from [Becky]. Becky had a title match. So, why — and that’s just where maybe I’m older, and I don’t understand, but you don’t just get handed cr*p around here. So to me, the whole thing was, I thought the fans were wrong.”
The underlying narrative thread was built upon Becky Lynch’s sense of betrayal and injustice. As a fan-favorite and a top contender, Lynch’s title opportunity was seemingly snatched away by her friend Charlotte Flair’s victory. This fueled Lynch’s post-match assault, and the intent was clear—a definitive heel turn. Road Dogg, however, questioned why fans chose to rally behind Lynch, who embodied the embodiment of “horrible sportsmanship” through her actions.
“You’re cheering the wrong person here because — what if the Bad News Bears were shaking hands with the team, or whoever, your baseball-playing son is shaking hands saying, good game, good game, or your softball-playing daughter, good game, good game and the team that loses just beats the cr*p out of the person,” added Road Dogg. “Do you pop for that, or do you go, ‘Oh my god, what are you doing? That’s horrible sportsmanship.'”
Drawing a parallel to real-world sportsmanship, Road Dogg pondered whether fans would typically support a team that exhibited unsportsmanlike conduct after a loss. This contrast between expected reactions and the actual response added layers to the discussion of fan psychology within the wrestling realm.
In an era where social media’s influence is undeniable, Road Dogg emphasized how platforms like Twitter have transformed the way fans interact with and perceive professional wrestling. He attributed the unexpected response to Lynch’s heel turn to the prevalence of online discourse, where the ease of sharing opinions has given rise to divergent viewpoints and unconventional reactions.
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“That’s what Becky did, and people loved it. It let me know then, like, oh, okay. There’s no goodness left at all [laughs]. It’s all Twitter; the world is Twitter. The world is Twitter now.”
In essence, Road Dogg’s analysis of the fan response to Becky Lynch’s heel turn serves as a microcosm of the modern wrestling fandom experience. It underscores the evolving nature of fan interactions in the digital age, where traditional expectations are challenged and redefined. This incident becomes a touchpoint for the changing dynamics between wrestling performers, narratives, and the global community of fans who engage with the product through new mediums and perspectives.
